Paste dispenser

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device enabling delivery of a paste from a flexible storage container located in a dimensionally stable container. Product is fed into a dosing device which dispenses product under vacuum. A follow-up plate is located on the top portion of the flexible storage container exerting pressure upon it. An opening is provided at the bottom of the container. On the edge of the opening a sealing device is arranged. Inside this arrangement a tight connection is made between the flexible storage container and access to the dosing device. Access to the dosing device can be barred. The sealing device is a sealing ring. Inside the opening of the sealing ring an upwardly turned blade is located in a conduit that connects to the dosing device. Between the blade and the connecting conduit a free cross section is available in order to enable paste flow.

BACKGROUND

1. Field Of The Invention

This invention relates generally to dispensers for viscous material, andmore particularly to a system or apparatus for delivering and guiding apaste from a flexible storage container accommodated in a dimensionallystable container ("pot") downwards into a dispenser operating by reducedpressure.

2. Discussion Of Related Art

Liquid to paste-form detergents are known in large numbers. They aregenerally formulated to meet domestic requirements, i.e. they areexpected to be sufficiently liquid so that they can be poured out andmeasured/dosed without difficulty. Since, in addition, they are expectedto be stable in storage over a relatively broad temperature range, theuse of organic solvents and/or hydrotropic additives cannot normally beavoided. However, such additives do not contribute to the actual washingprocess, are comparatively expensive and, in addition, take up packagingspace and transportation and storage capacity. The presence ofinflammable solvents is particularly troublesome and necessitatesadditional safety precautions on account of the relatively highconsumption of detergents in laundries. Because of this, detergentconcentrates of the type mentioned can only be used to a limited extent,if at all, in laundries.

Accordingly, powder-form detergents are mainly used in laundries. Sincethe exact dosing of powder-form detergents is problematical orlabor-sensitive, particularly in large and extensively automatedlaundries, the detergents are mostly stored and dispensed inpredissolved form as stock liquors, i.e. a water-based concentrate isprepared and delivered to the individual points of consumption. However,the detergents typically used in laundries contain comparatively highlevels of washing alkalis which are only soluble to a limited extent incold water and, lead to so-called salting-out effects. They promotephase separation with the result that the organic components, moreespecially the nonionic surfactants and soaps, separate and cream up.Accordingly, the concentrates have to be diluted relatively heavily withwater, and in addition, the stock liquors have to be constantly andintensely mixed and circulated to prevent individual components beingdeposited in the feed lines to the points of consumption. Processes suchas these require considerable investment in large mixing vessels and theassociated static mixers and feeders, and also require a constant supplyof energy for the heating and circulation of the stock liquors.

A detergent which meets these requirements is proposed in EP 0 295 525.This detergent is a paste which imposes particular demands on handlingfor the purpose of dosing and mixing with water as solvent. Detergentpastes such as these are transported and stored in large containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem addressed by the present invention is to design asystem or apparatus in such a way that the paste is safely andcontrollably delivered by simple means, and the system guarantees anair-tight connection to the dispenser operating by reduced pressure andtrouble-free, complete emptying. The solution to this problem in oneembodiment of the invention includes a sealing arrangement at the edgeof an opening, inside which an air-tight connection can be establishedbetween a flexible storage container held in a pot, and the accessopening to an underlying dispenser, the access to the dispenser beingdesigned to be shut off.

The proposed apparatus has the advantage that the flexible storagecontainer can be completely emptied because it is guaranteed that theconstituent material of the flexible container does not block or impedethe feed paths of the paste. This could easily happen if the connectionbetween the flexible storage container and the access to the dispenseris not airtight or if, through the emptying of the non-stretched storagecontainer, parts of the container material slip forward and prematurelycover the container outlet before all the paste had been removed.

According to the invention, two alternative solutions to the problems inthe prior art are proposed. In a first embodiment, the apparatuscomprises a sealing ring within the opening of which an upwardlydirected knife is arranged in a connecting passage to the dispenser. Afree cross-section for the passage of the paste is present between theknife and the connecting opening or passageway. In this way, it isreadily possible with advantage for the flexible storage container to beautomatically cut open on introduction into a pot, a pressure-tight sealto the outside being simultaneously guaranteed by the sealing lips.Accordingly, the paste is only delivered from this arrangement when theaccess from the flexible container to the dispenser is open. At the sametime, a reduced pressure by which the dispenser delivers the paste canalso be activated. The pressure-tight seal to the outside becomesparticularly effective if a sealing lip directed upwards, preferablyobliquely upwards, is provided on the sealing ring, and when thecontainer is introduced in to the pot, applies itself firmly to theflexible material of the container. A follower plate is positioned overthe flexible container.

If the knife is arranged in such a way that it projects into the lowerpart of the pot, a corresponding recess is advantageously provided inthe follower plate so that the material of the flexible container guidedunder the follower plate does not touch the knife, even when the outeredge is resting on the bottom of the pot. This also usefully ensuresthat, when the container is almost empty, the paste present at themargins of the container is first displaced towards the center by thedescending follower plate and the paste residues then concentrate in thespace which is formed in the opening or between the bottom of the potand the recess in the follower plate.

In one particular embodiment, the knife is cruciform in shape which verysimply and effectively facilitates the provision of free cross-sectionsfor the passage of the paste. In addition, the cruciform incision intothe material of the container results in the formation of comers which,as the paste flows through, fold in the direction of flow within thesealing arrangement and do not impede flow.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a commercially availablecontainer neck in the flexible container, which on introduction into thepot fits onto the container opening, the clamping ring of the containerneck fitting onto the rim of the opening. The neck thus projects throughthe opening toward the dispenser. If an insert designed to be sealed offboth from the surrounding atmosphere and through a passage arranged inthe direction flow from the dispenser is tightly inserted into thecontainer neck, the air-tight connection of the container to thedispenser can be established very effectively with simple means.

The paste is normally so viscous that a closure cap closing the passagecan be removed before the container is introduced into the pot and,hence, before the passage is inserted into the access to the dispenser.A relatively low paste viscosity, which could cause the paste to escapeunintentionally before the air-tight connection to the access to thedispenser had been established, can advantageously be taken into accountby equipping the passage with a closure designed to open automaticallyon insertion into the access of the dispenser. A sleeve provided in itswall with at least one cut-out extending from the passage/sleevejunction to just beneath the upper edge of the sleeve and arranged abovethe insertion passage, i.e. directed from the passage towards theinterior of the container, advantageously stabilizes the outflow ofpaste and guarantees complete emptying of the container. Here, too,particular advantages are afforded by the combination of such anarrangement with a corresponding recess in the follower plate in thecentral region of the arrangement of the container neck and the sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned advantages and other advantages are illustrated bythe accompanying description of embodiments which are shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which like items are identified by the samereference designation, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an arrangement with a sealing lip and cruciform knife.

FIG. 2 shows an arrangement with a container neck and an insert arrangedtherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the illustrations of the two embodiments, the dispenser 2 isschematically shown in the lower part, its access 3 being designed to beshut off by a closure 4. Mounted on the frame of the dispenser 2 is adimensionally stable pot 5 with an opening 9 in its base. Introducedinto the pot 5 is a flexible container 6 which, preferably, also servesas a transport container for the washing paste 28. Placed on theflexible container 6 is a follower plate 7 which weighs a few kilos andwhich fits into the pot in such a way that only a narrow gap is presentbetween the follower plate 7 and the inner wall of the pot 5. An excesslength of the material from which the flexible container 6 is made mayoptionally be arranged in this gap if the flexible container is sodesigned.

As can clearly be seen from FIG. 1, a sealing ring 10 is arranged in theopening 9 of the pot. The sealing ring 10 has an encircling sealing lip11 directed obliquely upwards. Since the sealing ring 10 is within thehousing of the dispenser 2 and since the bottom of the pot 5 is insertedinto the annular groove 30 between the sealing ring 10 and the sealinglip 11, this arrangement effectively seals off the system from theoutside. The cruciform knife 12 projecting into the pot 5 or containerslits open the constituent material 20 of the flexible container 6 whenthe container 6 is introduced into the pot 5 and pressed downwards.Between the blades of the knife 12 which are arranged crosswise, thecut-open corners of the container yield to the pressure of the paste 28and bend downwards so that they do not offer any resistance to the paste28. In the segments between the blades of the knife 12, there is enoughfree cross-section for the passage of paste 28 which is able to enterthe connecting passage 18 where there is a transition to the access 3 ofthe dispenser 2 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is sealed by aclosure 4.

If the access 3 is opened, the reduced pressure produced by the injectoron the principle of a water jet pump can be activated to take in thepaste 28. After the predetermined dose has been dispensed, the access 3is closed again to stop the delivery of paste 28.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which a commercially available containerneck 13 is inserted into the flexible container 6 in such a way that,when the flexible container 6 is introduced in to the pot 5, thecontainer neck 13 fits into the opening 9 of the pot 5, the flatunderside of the clamping ring 14 applying itself to the rim of theopening 9. The flexible material 20 of the container 6 is tightlyclamped by the clamping ring 14 in a gap between the clamping ring 14and the container neck 13. Inserted into the central opening of thecontainer neck 13 is an insert 15 which is held against the sleeve-likepart of the neck 13 by an annular fillet directed radially outwards andan annular bead projecting radially outwards. The cylindrical outer wallof the insert 15 is bent radially inwards at its end nearer the pot 5and merges into a passageway 16 which is turned slightly conically awayfrom the pot 5. At its lower end, the passageway 16 is closed by a cap(not shown). If the cap is integrally connected to the passage 16, it isseparated before the container 6 is introduced into the pot 5, althoughthis does not result in any leakage of the paste 28 by virtue of itsrelatively high viscosity. For pastes 28 of low viscosity, a specialembodiment may also be designed in such a way that the cap opensautomatically when the passageway 16 is inserted into the access 3 tothe dispenser 2.

The slightly conical shape of the passage 16 enables it to be tightlyconnected to the access 3. Arranged at the end of the insert 15 nearerthe pot 5 is a sleeve 17 which projects into the pot 5. The sleeve 17comprises a cut-out 19 extending from the point where the bead 32 mergesinto the sleeve 17 to just below the upper edge of the sleeve 17.Provided in an upwardly extending annular fillet 21 of the dispenser 2,inside which the connecting passage 18 is formed, are externally annularsealing elements 22 which establish a seal between the dispenser 2 andthe insert 15 mounted on fillet 21.

The embodiment in which a sealing arrangement is present at the edge ofthe opening 9 to enable a tight connection to be established between theflexible storage container 6 and the access 3 of the dispenser 2, isparticularly suitable, even in the form of the two alternativeembodiments, for combination with a dispenser 2 comprising an injector23. A fluid under high pressure, for example water under pressure, isdelivered into the injector nozzle 23 via a passageway 25 designed to beshut off, the water which expands after passing through the injectornozzle 23 flowing into an opposite access 27 to a measuring sector. Theinjector nozzle 23, which operates on the principle of a water jet pump,generates a reduced pressure on the suction side 24 which can betransmitted through the delivery passageway 26 to the access 3 of thedispenser 2. The pressure-tight connection between the flexiblecontainer 6 and the access 3 advantageously enables the reduced pressureto take in the paste 28 from the flexible container 6 and to deliver itto the dispenser 2. During this phase, the two passageways 25 and 26 areclosed by a dual control piston system.

The special feature of this control system lies inter alia in the factthat the pistons are adapted to one another in such a way that theclosure 4 of the passageway 26 is always opened before the pistonclosing the channel 25 has descended to such an extent that the waterunder high pressure is able to flow in and generate the reduced pressurerequired to deliver the paste 28 via the injector. Since the water isthe solvent for the paste 28, simple and effective mixing is guaranteedin this way. The dispensing process is controlled by a conductivitymeasurement in the measuring sector behind the access 27 which enablesthe exact concentration of the dissolved paste 28 and hence the quantityto be determined. When the preset dose size has been reached, thepassages 25 and 26 are closed again in reverse order.

Although various embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, they are not to be limiting. Those of skill in the art mayrecognize certain modification to these embodiments, which modificationare meant to be covered by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for delivering and guiding a paste froma flexible storage container accommodated in a dimensionally stable potdownwards into a dispenser operating by reduced pressure, the flexiblestorage container being surmounted by a follower plate which appliespressure to the storage container, and an opening being present in thebase of the pot, wherein a sealing arrangement is present at the edge ofthe opening, inside which an air-tight connection is established betweenthe flexible storage container and the access to the dispenser, theaccess to the dispenser being designed to be shut off.
 2. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing arrangement is a sealing ringsurrounding an upwardly directed knife arranged within the opening ofthe sealing ring in a connecting passageway to the dispenser, an opencross-section for the passage of paste being present between the knifeand the connecting passage.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe sealing ring comprises an upwardly directed sealing lip whichapplies itself firmly to the flexible container material.
 4. Apparatusas claimed in claim 3, wherein the knife is arranged in such a way thatit projects into the pot, and the follower plate comprises a recessthat, when it rests on the bottom of the pot, it does not touch theknife or the sealing lip.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe knife is cruciform in shape.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1wherein the knife is arranged in such a way that it projects into thepot, and the follower plate comprises a recess that, when it rests onthe bottom of the pot, it does not touch the knife or the sealing lip.7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the knife is cruciform inshape.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the knife iscruciform in shape.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein thesealing arrangement consists of a container neck in which an insert istightly arranged, the insert being designed to be sealed off from thedispenser and comprising a passageway designed to be connected to theaccess to the dispenser.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, furtherincluding a closure designed to open automatically when the passagewayis inserted into the access to the dispenser that is present at thefront end--relative to the flow direction--of the associated passageway.11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further including a sleeveprojecting into the container and arranged above and connected to thepassageway, the sleeve being provided in its wall with at least onecut-out extending from the junction between the passageway and thesleeve to just below an upper edge of the sleeve.
 12. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 4, further including a sleeve projecting into thecontainer and arranged above and connected to the passageway, the sleevebeing provided in its wall with at least one cut-out extending from thejunction between the passageway and the sleeve to just below an upperedge of the sleeve.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein thefollower plate comprises a recess so that, when it rests on the bottomof the pot, it does not touch the container neck or the sleeve.